Can you take Ozempic and Adderall?

In this article:

• Can you take Ozempic and Adderall together?
• Benefits of taking Ozempic and Adderall together
• Risks of combining Ozempic and Adderall
• Which one is better for weight loss?
• The bottom line

In this article

• Can you take Ozempic and Adderall together?
• Benefits of taking Ozempic and Adderall together
• Risks of combining Ozempic and Adderall
• Which one is better for weight loss?
• The bottom line

Obesity affects more than one-third of Americans. While treatment often involves exercise, a healthy diet, and other lifestyle changes, medications may also be prescribed to help. While Ozempic (semaglutide) and Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) aren’t FDA-approved weight loss drugs, healthcare providers sometimes prescribe these medications off-label to help with weight management. 

Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, is a brand-name medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. It’s also used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems in people with both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. As a once-weekly injection, Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and helps lower blood sugars by boosting insulin levels and lowering glucagon (a hormone that signals your liver to make glucose). In recent years, Ozempic has been in the headlines for its off-label use for weight loss. 

Adderall is also a brand-name drug that’s used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (a sleep condition that makes it difficult to stay awake). It’s a stimulant that contains a mixture of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Although it’s not exactly known how Adderall helps with ADHD, it’s thought to increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters–or chemicals–in the brain that are involved with behavior, attention, and alertness. Similar to Ozempic, Adderall may also be prescribed off-label for weight loss as decreased appetite and weight loss are potential side effects of the medication. 

But can Ozempic and Adderall be taken together? The answer isn’t clear, therefore, these drugs should only be taken together if done so under the supervision of a medical provider. 

Can you take Ozempic and Adderall together?

Maybe. There aren’t any known drug interactions between Ozempic and Adderall, so this combination should be safe to take together if instructed by your healthcare provider. 

However, according to Ozempic’s prescribing label, the drug has the potential to interfere with the absorption of oral medications (medications taken by mouth) because it slows the stomach’s emptying. Because it is an oral medication, there is a chance Ozempic may slow or prevent the absorption of Adderall, which can make Adderall less effective. 

Because the use of Ozempic and Adderall hasn’t been studied, it’s ultimately up to your healthcare professional whether this combination is safe. They will likely evaluate your health, including your medical history, current medications, and the severity of your condition, before determining whether it’s safe for you to take Ozempic and Adderall together. 

Benefits of taking Ozempic and Adderall together

Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which has been well-studied for weight loss. In fact, semaglutide is FDA-approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy. Studies have shown that once-weekly semaglutide can result in almost 6% weight loss after three months and almost 11% after six months. 

Healthcare providers first began using stimulants, such as Adderall, for weight loss after noticing their ability to produce decreased appetite and weight loss as side effects. Adderall is also known to reduce feelings of hunger and increase energy levels, both of which can contribute to weight loss. In clinical trials of the extended-release version, Adderall XR, weight loss occurred in:

• 4% of children ages 6 to 12 years old
• 9% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old 
• 10% of adults

While it may be tempting to take Ozempic and Adderall together to boost weight loss results, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare provider before doing so. Because there aren’t any studies focused on the combined use of these drugs, your medical provider can help weigh the potential benefits and risks of taking Ozempic and Adderall together. 

Risks of combining Ozempic and Adderall

The risks of combining Ozempic and Adderall are unknown. However, each drug comes with its own risks. These include side effects and contraindications. 

Side effects

Like all medications, Ozempic and Adderall can cause side effects. The following table highlights some of each drug’s most common and serious side effects according to their prescribing labels. 

* Ozempic has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. 

Adderall is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance due to its potential for abuse, misuse, and addiction. It’s also possible for people to become dependent on Adderall. Due to this risk, healthcare providers typically prescribe the lowest effective dosage of Adderall needed. 

Contraindications

Contraindications are specific situations when medications should not be used. Every medication, including Ozempic and Adderall, has contraindications. According to its prescribing information, Ozempic shouldn’t be used if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2 (MEN 2). This is because of Ozempic’s boxed warning regarding thyroid cancer. Ozempic also shouldn’t be used if you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of its other ingredients. 

Similarly, Adderall shouldn’t be used if you’ve had an allergic reaction to amphetamine or any other components of the drug. And because of the risk of severely high blood pressure, Adderall shouldn’t be used if you take or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last two weeks. 

Which one is better for weight loss?

Unfortunately, there isn’t any research available that compares Ozempic to Adderall for weight loss. A healthcare professional can discuss which medication is the best option for you. 

Although Ozempic isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss, its active ingredient, semaglutide, has been shown to be quite effective. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, the average weight loss for people with overweight or obesity was almost 15% after 68 weeks of semaglutide treatment. 

It’s not known how much weight you can lose with Adderall, but some experts say that only about one-third of people experience decreased appetite as a side effect. This means there is a chance you may not experience any weight loss at all. What’s more, stimulant medications have many risks, including the potential for abuse and addiction. Therefore, Adderall may not be the best option for weight reduction. 

The bottom line

Ozempic and Adderall may both be used off-label for weight loss. While they work differently to help with weight reduction and aren’t known to interact with each other, there haven’t been any studies about their combined use. Therefore, it’s not known if it’s safe and effective to take Ozempic and Adderall together.

Ultimately, it’s important that you consult your healthcare provider for medical advice before taking Ozempic with Adderall. They can weigh the potential risks and benefits of doing so, and together, you can come up with the best treatment plan to help you reach your weight loss goals.